Supporting and retaining means for railroad rails



Patented June 29, 1937 SUPPORTING AND RETAINING MEANS FOR RAILROAD RAILS Harold G. Warr, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Poor & Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 19,` 1934, Serial No. '758,250

8 Claims. (Cl. 23S-F306) This invention relates to means for supporting and retaining a railroad rail in its proper` position and includes certain improvements in a railway tie plate of the general class which includes means integral with the base portion of the plate adapted to overlie the upper edges of the base portion of a railroad rail at opposite sides of the rail to limit, rather than entirely prevent, the vertical and turning movements of the rail with relation to the tie plate. I

It has been found preferable in some railway track constructions to rigidly secure the tie plates to the supporting cross ties and to loosely attach r the track rails to the tie plates. The loose con- 0 nections between the rail and tie plates permit the rail, during the wave movements thereof, to move vertically of the tie plates without lifting or otherwise displacing the supporting cross ties in the ballast of the road-bed.

o The tie plates heretofore used or proposed which include means integral with the plate and overlying opposite edges of the rail base, have involved the use of separately formed members which are usually positioned or wedged between 5 the rail base and one or both of the inwardly projecting flange portions of the tie plate or they have provided projections of but relatively small area which are caused to project over either edge of the `rail base at locations spaced longitudinally o of the rail by rotating such tie plates about their vertical axis after the rail has been set in place.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tie plate having integral inturned anges which overlie the upper edges of the rail 5 base at opposite sides of the rail for the full width of the tie plate and which are so formed as to permit the rail base to be seated on the plate beneath said flanges without requiring the plate .to be rotated or otherwise shifted from its fixed po- 0 sition on a cross tie and which at the same time will provide, when the rail is seated in its operative position on the plate, suitable clearance between the rail base and the inturned ilanges of the plate to permit limited vertical movement of 45 the rail base with relation to the plate.

' position of the keys and their frictional engagement with the supporting cross-tie will maintain them in proper position at all times.

The invention is illustrated in two specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig..1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention,v showing the tie plate member thereof applied to the top face of a supporting cross tie and showing the base portion of a railroad rail seated in its operative position on the tie plate.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken online 2-2 of Fig. l showing the clearance between the top surface of the rail base and the portions of the plate overlying opposite edges of said plate.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View illustrating the manner in which the railroad rail may be seated on the tie plate while the latter is rigidly connected to a supporting cross tie. p

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 5 illustrates the application of a railroad rail to the tie plate of Fig. 4, and i Fig. 6 is an `enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the larger jaw of the tie plate shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The tie plate shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings comprises a base portion I0 of the usual width and thickness. It is preferably fastened rigidly to the top of a` supporting cross tie II so as to prevent movement of the plate on the tie. The plate is provided with four apertures I2 for receiving screw spikes or other suitable fastening devices I3. The key members hereinafter described for retaining the rail in proper position on the plate also assist in securing the tie plate to the cross tie. It is therefore practical, in most installations, to use but two fastenupstanding ribs I4 and I5 between which the p base portion I E `of the rail is seated when the rail is in its applied position. The space between the ribs is such as to provide a substantial clearance between the rib I 4 and the adjacent edge of the rail base when the rail is in its applied position. 'Ihe said ribs are formed integrally with the plate and extend the full width thereof so that the inner face Il of the rib I5 will provide a relatively long abutment for one edge of the rail base.

The height of the surface I'I of the rib I5 is `greater than the vertical edge face of the rail base. 'I'he upper ends of the ribs are formed to the rail base and the flanges I8 and I9 are preferably such that any abnormal vertical or wave movement of the rail will bring the rail base into abutting engagement with the said overlying flanges.

The rail base is maintained in its proper position beneath the overlying flanges I8 and I9 by means of one or more key members 2I-2I. The key members herein shown are preferably rail- Way spikes of the square shank type but screw spikes maybe used if desired. l They are driven thr'ouglr'ther Vkey openings Y22--22'and into the cross-,tie so that the shank portions of the keys intervene between one edge of the rail base and the inner face `23 of rib I4 of the tie plate. This position of the spikes holds the adjacent edge of the rail base in properV spaced relation totheinnerface 2'3 of the rib I4 and maintains the otherl edge of the rail `base in proper position adjacent the inner face Il of the abutment I5.

The spaced relation of the rib I4 from the adjacent edge of the rail base makes it practical to fdrm'the inner face 23 of said rib of less height than the inner` face I'I of the rib I5, and' thereby form'both ribs of substantially uniform external heights. It is desirable, since the keys 2I-2IY forces encountered in service. They are protected from` the lifting rforce incident to the vertical movement of the rail by reason of the attaching devices I3 and the position ofthe flange I8 of the tie Yplate between the topV surface ofthe rail Y baseand the heads ofthe key spikes. The vertical position` ofthe v,key spikes also insures that they will maintain their position even though the spike holes 'in the cross tie might become worn in a manner to relieve the frictional griprof the tie on the spikes.

, jInfscating the base portion .of a railroad rail beneath the Ytie plate flanges I8 and I 9, oney edge of the rail base is first inserted beneath the fwide flange I8, until'the opposite edge of vthe rail base clears theinner edge of the abutment flanges I9, *as `indicated in Fig. 3'of the drawings. After the rail 4base is seated flat on the tie plate, the rail is then moved'laterally until the flange VI9 ofthe plate projects a suitable distance over ythe adjacent iedge of the rail base. The spikes .2VI- 2I' are then driven `through the openings in the flange I8' andthe base portion of the plate to hold theb'ase of the rrail relatively close to the nnerface I`1 4of the abutment I5, but with capacity for free' movement ofthe railbase vertically of thqe'tie plate. Theclearance between the rail base A'ariel.the'under surface of ,ther flanges I8 and IS is vuniform vat both'sides o f ithe rail base' so as to limit pgtncsles of ine, rau base to ythe same amount of vertical movement. In order to provide a minimum of clearance between the rail base and said s flanges I8 and I9, the flange I9 is made relatively n narrow and its inner edge is beveled as indicated at 24. 'I'his construction makes it practicable to support the rail base at a relatively low angle while its edge is being inserted beneath the Wide flange I8. The inner edges of flanges I8 and I9 extend parallel with the longitudinal edges of the rail base for the full width of the tie plate. It is therefore practical to apply a rail to or remove it from a number of the tie plates simultaneously without disturbing the fixed positions of the plates on the cross ties.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings includes a tie plate Illa Whose construction is the same as the plate shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings except in the form of the long jaw and flange 25 which overlies one edge of the rail base. The various other parts of the tie plate and attaching devices are identical with the corresponding parts of the previously described eml'acdinient.v 'These various parts and devices have been given corresponding reference numerals with the exponent a. without being re-described in connection with the modified embodiment.

The undersurface of the flange 25, instead of being formed with the same inclination as the top surface of the rail base, as shown in the previous embodiment, is formed with surfaces 26 and 2l which extend at angles to each other. The surface 2B may be andfpreferably is provided with the same inclination as the top surface of the rail base and joins the vertical surface 232i, the latter of which in all substantial respects is the same assurface v,23,ofthe previous embodiment. The

Vsurface 2l of the modified construction inclines at a greater angle than the top surface of the rail base so as to provide more clearance for the rail base while its edge is being inserted beneath the flange 25 as shown in Fig. 5. However, when the rail base is in its operative position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, theclearance between the upper edgeof the rail base and the line of contact 29 `against the surfaces k2 5- 21 of the flange v25Y is substantially the same as the clearance 25a between theV opposite edge of the rail base and the overlying flange Ilia.

, The rail base IIia is seated kbeneath the overlying ilanges of the plate and is secured in its operative position on the plate in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

While vthe invention is illustrated and described in connection with two specific embodiments, it

will be obvious to persons skilled in this art that various changes might be made in the structures of the plates shown without departing from the principles of this invention. It will be understood, therefore, that the invention includes all Asuch changes which come .within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail ,comprising in combination a tie plate formed 4with `spaced upstanding ribsv defining a seat for the base portion of a rail and'formed at their `upper ends with inward projections of different Vwidths transversely of the rail, portions of which overlie the upper edges of the rail base in uniform spaced relation to the rail base at opposite sides thereof to provide abutments for limiting, by direct engagement therewith, upward movement of the rail base relative to the plate,

and a key member positioned between one vertical edge of the rail base and the adjacent upstanding rib of thegplate to hold said edge of the rail base spaced from said rib and to hold the other edge of the rail base against the other of said upstanding ribs.

2'. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination a tie plate formed with spaced upstanding ribs defining a seat for the baseportion of a rail and formed at their upper ends with inward projections of different widths transversely of the rail, portions t of which roverlie the upper edges of the rail base and in uniform spaced relation to the rail base at opposite sides thereof to p-rovide abutments for limiting, by direct engagementtherewith, upward movement of the rail base relative to the plate, and a key member extending vertically between one vertical edge of the rail base and the adjacent upstanding rib of the plate to hold said edge of the rail base spaced from said rib and to hold the other edge of the rail base movably against the other of said upstanding ribs.

43. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination a tie plate formed with upstanding ribs defining a seat for the base portion of a railroad rail and formed at their upper ends with inwardly projecting flanges, one being relativ-ely wide and the other relatively narrow, which overlie the upper edges of the rail base and in uniform' spaced `relation to the rail base at opposite sides thereof to provide abutments for limiting, by direct engagement therewith, upward movement of the rail base relative to the plate, and a vertically disposed key member extending through an opening in the wide overlying flange and the base portion of the plate to hold an edge portion of the rail base movably against the upstanding rib at the other side of the rail; the said key being of sufhcient length to extend into the underlyin cross-tie.

4. In a supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail, a tie plate member `formed with spaced upstanding ribs terminating at their upper ends with inwardly projecting flanges, one of w'hich is relatively wide and the other of which is relatively narrow, adapted to overlie the upper edges of a rail base in uniform spaced relation to said base at opposite sides thereof, the inner edge of the narrow flange being beveled to provide it with a surface which extends downwardly and inwardly toward the base portion of the plate to reduce the effective height of the rib on which said flange is formed.

5. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination a tie plate adapted for application tc a supporting cross-tie and formed with spaced upstanding ribs one of is formed being of greater height than the inner face of the rib on which the wider ange is formed, there being apertures in said wider flange to receive rail-securing key members and the said key members being positioned vertically in said apertures and driven into the underlying cross-tie to secure the tie-plate to said crosstie.

6. In supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail, a tie plate formed with spaced upstan-ding ribs thereon one of which provides an abutment for one edge of a rail base and is formed with a narrow inturned flange overlying and spaced from the top portion of said rail base Vand the other rib having a wider flange overlying and spaced from the top of the rail base at the other side of the rail, a portion of the under surface of said wide rib being inclined at a greater angle than the top surface of the rail base to facilitate positioning the rail base thereunder and having a portion for contact with the rail base which is spaced from the rail a distance substantially equal to the clearance between the opposite edge of the rail base and said narrow flange.

7. In supporting -and retaining means for a railroad rail, a tie plate formed with spaced upstanding ribs extending the full width of .the

plate, one of which provides .an abutment for one edge of' a rail base and is formed with a narrow inturned flange overlying and spaced from the top surface of said rail base in a plane parallel to said top surface of the base and the other rib having a wider flange overlying and spaced from the top of the rail base at the opposite side of the rail, a portion of the under surface of said wide flange being inclined upwardly toward the inner edge thereof at a greater angle than the top surface of the rail base to facilitate positioning of the rail base thereunder and having a portion for contact with the rail base, during its upward movement thereof relative to the plate, which is substantially equal to the clearance between the rail base and the said narrow flange.

8. In supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail, a tie plate formed with spaced upstanding ribs, one of which provides an abutment for one edge ofthe rail base and is provided with a narrow inturned flange overlying and Y spaced from the top. surface of said base and the other rib having a wider flange overlying and spaced from the top of they rail base at the other side of the rail, a portion of the under surface of said wide flange being inclined and spaced from the top of the said rail base a distance equal to the clearance between the opposite edge of the rail base and the said narrow flange and provided also witha portion adjacent the inner edge of the wide flange which inclines upwardly at a greater angle than the top surface of the rail base positioned thereunder, there being also a plurality of apertures extending through the wide flange adap-ted to receive key members adapted to be driven through said apertures and into the underlying cross-tie.

HAROLD G. WARR. 

